1876 DIMENSIONS OF AN ICEBERG. 161 



and twenty-six feet, lying aground in 190 feet water ; 

 it had probably been raised a foot or two when forced 

 on shore, and would therefore have about one-ninth of 

 its mass exposed when afloat. 



During the afternoon the temperature rose to 35, 

 and misty weather with light rain set in. 



On the 2nd a channel opened with the ebb-tide and 

 enabled us to reach to within half a mile of Cape Hawks, 

 but there a newly-formed floe, of debris ice frozen 

 together, prevented our attaining the shelter formed 

 by three icebergs lying aground a mile distant outside 

 of the cape. Captain Stephenson, in the ' Discovery,' 

 having steam up in both boilers, with much trouble 

 and by rolling the ship, broke his way through for a 

 distance of about a hundred yards into the ice, and 

 probably could have cut completely through the floe ; 

 but the ice to the westward giving no promise of 

 opening, and a thick snow-storm having set in, we 

 returned to our place of shelter off the depot, having 

 expended much coal to little purpose. 



As we now had only a few tons of steaming coal 

 left, and after it was gone would have to use the coal 

 necessary for warming the ship during the coming 

 winter, its expenditure had become a very serious 

 matter. I need scarcely add that no ashes were 

 ever thrown overboard. 



Again early on the morning of the 3rd the 

 movements in the ice induced me to advance, but 

 again were we obliged to retreat. 



During the forenoon I landed on Washington Irving 

 Island, and the weather being very clear, obtained a 

 fine view. 



VOL. II. M 



